Improvement in belt-stretchers



miren STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

ANSEL T. GREEN, .OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

IM PROVElVI ENT IN BELT-STRETCH ERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,896, dated December 23, 1879 application tiled November 4, 1879.

To all 'whom it may] concern:

Beit known that I, ANsEL T. GREEN, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved Belt-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe device; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation on line a' or, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation on line y y, Fig. 1. Figa is an enlarged sectional elevation ou line z e, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a thumb screw-nut, partly in section. Fig. 6 is au enlarged end view ot" a pinion with its latch attached.

Similailetters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is lo provide an improvement upon the clamping belt-stretche1, whereby the ends of the belt can be adjusted to each other with accuracy.

The invention consistsin fixing gear-wheels on the heads of the two long` side screws of the stretcher, and in arranging two corresponding pinions on a crankrod in such a manner that when thepinions are thrown in gear with the gear-wheels both screws will be worked simultaneously; and it further consists of a graduated clamp for the more accurate adjustment of the sides of the belt, of hinged screw-sockets t'or the quicker attachment and removal ofthe stretcher, and of a thumb screwnut of novel construction, all of which are hereinafter described.

In ythe drawings, A A represent the two clamps, both ot' which are graduated or marked with lines and gures a, to enable the operator to adjust the sides ot' the belt in a line; and on the inner and graduatedfaces of the clamp A', and near its ends, are secured two split metallic screw-sockets, B, whose halves are hinged to each other. These sockets B are'made to grasp or close around the long side screws, (l, when the stretcher is in use, and can be quickly thrown open, as shown on the right of Fig. 3, by drawing back the catch b when it is desired to remove the stretcher from the belt. The clamps A A are held upon the screws C by the screws D and thumb screw-nuts E, which nuts E are 'constructed with washers c, attached to and making part of them.

'may be removed.

0n the top of the screws C are fixed the gear-wheels F, and extending over these wheels F is the rod G, revolving in the standard H, that extends from the ends of the clamp A parallel with the screws C. 0n this rod G the two pinions I are loosely set, each one having a keyway, d, in which the key f of the rod Gen-` gages, to prevent the pinion I from turning on the said rod G, and also to prevent it from moving too far along the said rod. For the purpose of holding these pinions I in gear with the wheels F, slots g are cut in the rod G, and latches or pawls 71, are pivoted to the pinions I, so that they may be turned into the said slots g, to hold the pinions I in place. The crank k is provided with a square eye, and can be set on either end of the rod G, at the convenience of the operator.

To operate this device, the nuts E are loosened until, by reason of the slots i in the front halves of the clamps A A', the said halves An end of the belt is then laid on the remaining halves of the clamps, when the slotted halves are replaced, and then the front -and rear halves are screwed lirmly together upon the belt. The pinions I are then secured in gear with the wheels G, in the manner hereinbefore described, 'and the crank and rod K G turned, by which means the clamps A A', holding each an end of the belt, are

drawn together until the belt is suiilcientlyA tightened, when the said-belt may have its ends laced, riveted, or otherwise fastened together. Then the nuts E may be loosened, the screw-socketsB opened, and the stretcher be removed.

It will be seen that either one of the pinions I may be thrown out of gear, while the other is in gear, witha wheel, G, whereby one i side of the belt may, if desirable, be stretched more than the other.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what `or recede from each other. i

2. As ameans of drawing together the halves of the clamps of a belt-stretcher, the thumb screw-nuts E, with attached washers, substantially as herein shown and described, in coinbination with the screw D, as set forth.

3. As a means for correctly adjusting the belt in a belt-stretcher,a clamp or clamps pro vided With graduations, as shown at a, substantially as herein set forth.

4.. For holding` the pinions I in gear With the Wheels F, the latches or pawls h, pivote'd on and in combination with the said pinions I,

and made to turn into the slots g of the rod G, substantially as herein shown and described. 5. In the construction of a belt-stretcher, the clamps A A', provided with slots c', substantially as herein shown and described, in combination with the screws C and nuts and screws E c, as herein set forth.

ANSEL T. GREEN.

Witnesses:

W. B. HAWLEY, GEO. W. BRAKE. 

